MYDDELTON, Richard (1764-96), of Chirk Castle, Denb.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820, ed. R. Thorne, 1986
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

20 May 1788 - 20 Dec. 1796

Family and Education

b. 26 Jan. 1764, o.s. of Richard Myddelton of Chirk Castle by 1st w. Elizabeth, da. of Sir John Rushout, 3rd Bt., of Northwick Park, Glos.; his sisters m. Robert Biddulph* and Hon. Frederick West*. educ. Eton 1775-81; Christ Church, Oxf. 1781; Grand Tour. unm. suc. fa. 1795.

Offices Held

Burgess, Denbigh 1779, common councilman 1783.

Lt.-col. R. Denb. militia 1793-d.

Biography

Myddelton was again returned unopposed on the family interest in 1790. There was some doubt about his political allegiance: he had joined the Whig Club on 7 Nov. 1788 and voted against Pitt in the Regency crisis. On 10 May 1791 George Rose wrote to Lord Kenyon:1

I shall be very much obliged to your lordship if you will tell me whether you happen to know if Mr Myddelton the Member for Denbigh is in determined opposition, or whether the complying with a request he has just made to Mr Pitt would have any chance of conciliating him.

Myddelton must have been conciliated, or perhaps displayed the same political indolence as his father, for he did not appear in the minority lists or utter in debate. He was absent, ‘doubtful’, when the repeal of the Test Act was canvassed in April 1791. In December 1792 he was listed as a Portland Whig, with a query, and in 1796 his support of government was hoped for. He died 20 Dec. 1796, whereupon the family estates, which he left encumbered, and electoral interests devolved upon his sisters.2

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: R. G. Thorne

Notes

  • 1. HMC Kenyon, 534; PRO 30/8/162, f. 252. The request was for William Simon to succeed as distributor of stamps in Denbighshire and Myddelton concluded, ‘the favour shall always be acknowledged’, 30 Apr. 1791.
  • 2. NLS mss 11196, f. 76; PCC 513 Exeter.